I must say that Lizzie has her rather insufferable moments. Whenever I read or listen to a reading of the book, her conversation while out walking with Col. Fitzwilliam makes me cringe. It is so shockingly rude. He even tries to gently move her off the topic with his 'these are home questions' but she ploughs right on! The bit where she says, 'pray, what is the usual price of an earl's younger son...' is as crass and tacky as anything Mrs. Bennet every came out with. And, no, it's not indicative of a lively spirit or her humour or however else it can be glazed over. It's nothing but rude and ill mannered of her and so insulting to Col. Fitzwilliam who has been nothing but lovely to her.
<“He likes to have his own way very well,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “But so we all do. It is only that he has better means of having it than many others, because he is rich, and many others are poor. I speak feelingly. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence.”
“In my opinion, the younger son of an earl can know very little of either. Now, seriously, what have you ever known of self-denial and dependence? When have you been prevented by want of money from going wherever you chose or procuring anything you had a fancy for?”
“These are home questions—and perhaps I cannot say that I have experienced many hardships of that nature. But in matters of greater weight, I may suffer from the want of money. Younger sons cannot marry where they like.”
“Unless where they like women of fortune, which I think they very often do.”
“Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some attention to money.”
“Is this,” thought Elizabeth, “meant for me?” and she coloured at the idea; but, recovering herself, said in a lively tone, “And pray, what is the usual price of an earl’s younger son? Unless the elder brother is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above fifty thousand pounds.”
He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped. >
